needed:fast-growing, evergreen, tall privacy hedge

I need to plant a new evergreen, fast-growing (and tall) hedge along the border of my property. We need it for privacy in the backyard. Our oleanders, which are over 20 feet tall (and once beautiful), are dying. The existing fences are chain-link (!).

I know this is going to be a huge expense, and I need to make sure I do it right!

We live in Encino -- very hot, dry summers (100 degrees) and cold winters. (Last year our ficus hedge in the front yard froze and died.)

I would appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!!
dina

Purple Hopseed bush is beautiful, and grows quickly if you feed it. As a bonus, it is native to the southwest and is very hardy in terms of temperature, insects, and diseases.

Texas privet works well also, but might have too much of that industrial park look for you.

A common choice in southern CA are Eugenias, which I don't recommend because of several pest problems.

Some people plant Bamboo but it will take over your life, your plumbing, your neighbors yard ...

That's the basics, I'm sure others will chip in with their favorites!

Thanks, Richard.

I googled purple hopseed, and it is indeed pretty. Does it stay that reddish/green color all year? And do you know how well they do in extreme heat?

I am also interested in privet, but there are so many different kinds. What are the plusses for Texas privet?

Thanks again!

dina

Purple hopseed is mostly reddish, with new leafs having green portions. Loves the weather at my father's home in Redlands which is 115 deg-F in August and occasionally snows in winter. These bushes are taller than the 1-story home and have been side-trimmed to be 4 feet wide, which of course promotes more height. Plenty of leafs on the lower branches, all the way down to the ground. It produces dime-size very light seed pouches in the late summer which are usually pink and very attractive. In the fall they turn white and float to the ground. Sweep them under the plant -- it's great mulch.

The privets found in nurseries vary by the ultimate size of the plant: small, medium, and large. Texas is ... you guessed it: tall.

There is a plant called "Giant Yellow Oliander" which is a cousin of the more common varieties dying from the virus. The giant yellow is very resistant to the virus. Beautiful plant, not as dense in foliage. It is not uncommon for well-fed 5 year old plants to be 20 feet tall.

You might also check out Escallonia. I grew them in Stockton (Sunset zone 14) where summers were 90-105 degrees and winters were cold and damp. Fast growing to 8 feet or more. Evergreen with pretty little white, pink, or red flowers almost all year. should handle temperatures down to at least 20 degrees.

The hardiness of the hopseed seems perfect, but I'm not sure I want a reddish look. I'm hoping for lots of green -- I have over 50 yards to cover.

I didn't know there was an oleander resistant to the disease!
Am also still considering privet. i wonder how fast that grows...